A3.13 B3.21

Foundations of Quantum Mechanics | Part II, 2001

(i) Write the Hamiltonian for the harmonic oscillator,

H=p22m+12mω2x2H=\frac{p^{2}}{2 m}+\frac{1}{2} m \omega^{2} x^{2}

in terms of creation and annihilation operators, defined by

a†=(mω2ℏ)12(x−ipmω),a=(mω2ℏ)12(x+ipmω)a^{\dagger}=\left(\frac{m \omega}{2 \hbar}\right)^{\frac{1}{2}}\left(x-i \frac{p}{m \omega}\right), \quad a=\left(\frac{m \omega}{2 \hbar}\right)^{\frac{1}{2}}\left(x+i \frac{p}{m \omega}\right)

Obtain an expression for [a†,a]\left[a^{\dagger}, a\right] by using the usual commutation relation between pp and xx. Deduce the quantized energy levels for this system.

(ii) Define the number operator, NN, in terms of creation and annihilation operators, a†a^{\dagger} and aa. The normalized eigenvector of NN with eigenvalue nn is ∣n⟩|n\rangle. Show that n≥0n \geq 0.

Determine a∣n⟩a|n\rangle and a†∣n⟩a^{\dagger}|n\rangle in the basis defined by {∣n⟩}\{|n\rangle\}.

Show that

a†mam∣n⟩={n!(n−m)!∣n⟩,m≤n0,m>na^{\dagger m} a^{m}|n\rangle=\left\{\begin{aligned} \frac{n !}{(n-m) !}|n\rangle, & m \leq n \\ 0, & m>n \end{aligned}\right.

Verify the relation

∣0⟩⟨0∣=∑m=01m!(−1)ma†mam|0\rangle\langle 0|=\sum_{m=0} \frac{1}{m !}(-1)^{m} a^{\dagger m} a^{m}

by considering the action of both sides of the equation on an arbitrary basis vector.

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